Dessert at CG to watch Wishes?

[autumnpalm]

Sorry, I know I just posted a thread asking for a more moderate restaurant to eat at while watching Wishes, and I got some great suggestions, but I was just wondering if anyone has had any experience with just ordering dessert in order to watch the fireworks? I know the California Grill has some amazing desserts and I know my family would prefer to eat a more inexpensive CS/TS restaurant and then just order dessert at the CG. Has anyone tried this? Will our server be annoyed if we are not there for a full course meal, or are they generally happy to serve anyone? I just don't know if it's "done" to order only desserts (and for my brother, who has no sweet tooth at all, an appetizer?)

Thanks!!

 

[Hopefully]

I read your post awhile ago and waited for others to reply. No one has.
All I can offer is my opinion of what I would do, not a rule etc.
Are you on the Dining Plan? If so, you would be using 2 TS credits just for desert. I would never do that, it is a huge waste. If you are not, it is not as expensive.
California Grille is a high end, popular restaurant. It is not a fireworks viewing station. If you book an ADR with the intention of only ordering dessert because you want a fireworks viewing location, you are taking the opportunity for a fantastic meal away from another family. You are short changing the server, whose tips are based on the bill.
I saw your other post today too. I don't understand your thought that viewing fireworks and/or shows should be from a restaurant. Curb side is awesome.
Anyway, I would never book an ADR at California Grill with the express purpose of only ordering dessert after a CS dinner so that I could see Wishes.
I don't think this is the right thing to do.
Have a Great Trip.

 

[tlev]

I agree with Hopefully. There is NO comparison to seeing Wishes from the park. The view from the CG kind of shows the fireworks to the side of the castle instead of coming from behind. The CG is a restaurant that happens to have a view of Wishes, not a viewing station that happens to serve food.

 

[Pakey]

I agree with PP's on this.

I would also point out that your chances of getting a window table at Ca Grill at the appropriate time to slide in for dessert right before fireworks is a risk. Dinner there takes quite some time. Most people book 1-2 hours for dinner before the fireworks and you will have no idea of when the next available table would be available, even with an ADR. It's a planned evening there, not a convenient spot to watch the fireworks. Good chance you wouldn't get a table in time anyway.

I've posted this on other threads before but we have eaten at Ca Grill approx 20 times. We've had a window table once. The other 19 times would have required us to go out on the observation deck to watch and we've only done that once. We go there to eat some great cuisine, not to watch the show. We've had better spots in the park for strictly viewing.

BTW, the desserts at Ca Grill are not that amazing. It certainly isn't the dessert that draws us back.

 

[Nancyg56]

I'll chime in as well. I cannot see how you could time dessert to view Wishes. There is no way to guarantee that you will be seated at the time you want and no way to be sure that you could see the display from your table once you were there. I agree that the plan sounds nice and romantic but I doubt that it would happen as planned and that would be a real letdown.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I would agree with the above posters. It has been years ago, but we were actually rather disappointed anyway watching fireworks from CA Grille. For me, Tink's flight is one of the best parts and she is such a small speck she is hard to even see from CA Grille.
What would probably work better is just go to the 4th floor outside deck at the Contemp and watch from there -- if you do not want to be in MK during the fireworks.
Still the best place is in MK. But the 4th floor deck can be fine depending on your time and wants. And hassle free since no ADR or money is involved.

 

[autumnpalm]

Thanks so much for the advice, everyone!

Originally I was looking for a restaurant to make an ADR for on our MK day, and I thought that the best place to eat dinner would be at a restaurant that had a view of the fireworks. After doing a little bit of research, I realized that the restaurants where you can view the fireworks are a little too pricey for us, since we are paying OOP. I thought having dessert would be a nice way to experience both the restaurant and the fireworks without taking up too much of our budget, since we would like to experience a Signature Restaurant.

I do see how it would be unfair to take away another family's ADR, that it would be difficult to time dessert with the fireworks and that there are better viewing locations from inside the MK, so I think we'll skip the CG for this trip. Thanks for the input though, I'm glad I got some honest advice!

 

[Nancyg56]

Have a wonderful trip!